“‘However, as I am nearing the end of my life, I question the wisdom of my actions. I know I shall face God soon. Plimpton makes dire predictions each time he visits. Can I meet my Maker with such a thing on my conscience? I will have to inform Alonzo. I would not have him find out after I’m gone. I shall have to choose my time carefully and give him a way of escape before the storm bursts. I have wronged many in this entire affair. My son, my real daughter-in-law, my true heir, my son’s wife by a bigamous marriage, and the child they produced.

“‘Can God forgive me? Can any of those I have wronged so terribly?

“‘For the sake of the procedures that must follow, I hereby renounce Alonzo John Darby as my heir for being the son of a bigamous marriage, and I claim Daniel Swann Darby as my rightful successor.

“‘In closing, I appoint Marcus, Duke of Haverly, as the executor of my estate. Haverly has the power and the intelligence to investigate what I have laid out here, as well as to see to the petition to the attorney general.

“‘Though I have confessed, I do not feel as if I go to my grave with a clean conscience.’”

Mr. Moody looked up. “It is signed and dated by Lord Rotherhide and witnessed by Mr. Cooper and Dr. Plimpton.”

Silence struck the room.

There was so much to say, so much to ask, but no one said a word.

Haverly stirred. “I suggest we adjourn. And I further suggest that no one reveal outside this room anything that has occurred here today. I, along with the solicitors, will begin an investigation. In my limited experience, establishing the legitimacy of Mr. Swann as heir will be difficult at best. No doubt Miss Cutshall and her son will wish to dispute the claim.”

“I can assure you, we will.” The viscountess’s nostrils flared, probably at being called by her maiden name. “I shall begin the process of selecting my own solicitors to fight this, and you have no right to tell me whom I can and cannot speak to about this travesty of justice.” She waved her hand over the documents in front of Mr. Moody.

“Madam, if you want to let it be known that there is a cloud of doubt over your son’s birth, I cannot stop you. I only wished to safeguard the information presented here until we had better proof one way or the other than that of a sick old man. But if you desire us to move openly with our questioning and these claims, by all means, it will simplify my task considerably.” Haverly’s expression was innocence itself as he spread his hands.